Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty whisper sparks global debate: Did he say 'Bismillah'?
Cristiano Ronaldo's whisper before a decisive penalty kick in Portugal's win over Croatia has ignited a worldwide social media debate over whether he said 'Bismillah' or a Portuguese phrase.
During Friday's match between Portugal and Croatia, Cristiano Ronaldo took the decisive penalty kick, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory for his team. Cameras captured the footballer in deep concentration as he whispered something to himself. This moment was broadcast live to billions around the world and sparked heated debates on social media.
Arabic-speaking social media users claim that Ronaldo whispered "Bismillah" ("In the Name of God") twice, a common phrase in the Muslim world to invoke God's blessing. Meanwhile, in Portugal, many believe he said "vamos lá" ("come on") or "vais marcar" ("you will score").
Ronaldo has played for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League since 2022, and his possible use of an Islamic phrase caused excitement across the Arab world. Several social media videos show people freezing in front of their TVs and then erupting in joy, exclaiming that Ronaldo said "Bismillah." Arabic-language media also cautiously or shyly highlighted the event.
Journalists from Euronews' Doha and Dubai bureaus, as well as its Arabic service, analyzed the footage and concluded that Ronaldo did indeed whisper "Bismillah." They noted that the footballer has used this phrase before while playing in Saudi Arabia. One Saudi user on social media wrote: "It's so moving how Cristiano Ronaldo has been influenced by Islamic culture since arriving in Saudi Arabia!"
However, some opponents argue that Ronaldo's accent makes the phrase "vais marcar" sound like "Bismillah." The player himself has not commented on the controversy, focusing instead on greeting Portuguese fans after the match. This quiet moment of inspiration allowed Portugal to advance to the quarter-finals and silenced his critics.
